After surgery, how did you deal with the transition of eating normal sized meals to post op life?  Did anyone panic or struggle with depression?  Psychologically, how did you deal with the changes? 

I have my first Drs appt April 28th, yay!

I had a terrible sore throat from the surgery, so at first it hurt to drink and eat. Taking little sips and very small amounts were fine with me.  I remember crying once when I pureed some food and it was silly of me, but I just couldn't help it.  As time went on, even with my 3 oz of meat and a 1/4 c veggie, it would take me longer to eat than the rest of my family.  So it wasn't like I was sitting around watching everyone else eat, so that was good.

I think keeping a journal is a good way to deal with what you are going through.  I kept track of my food, fluid, protein, and exercise.  I wrote down how things were going at first.  It's fun to look back at it now.

Good luck to you!
Kristi

How long after surgery do you eat pureed food?  Also, I'm wondering if babyfood would work?

I started making changes before surgery.  I began to change how I viewed food and what I ate starting in May and I had surgery in November.  So, while it was a definite difference after surgery, I wasn't missing things in the way I feared.  Right after surgery, it took me a good week to week and a half to get a real appetite.  And then once I did, I was so over the liquid, mushy and soft foods, so I just ate what I had to in order to get through those stages.

Your mind will fool you though.  It will make you think you can eat a whole lot more than you can.  I'm five months out and my husband is amused by me at times when I make a plate and I put too much food on it.  He smiles, knowing it will get wrapped up or thrown away. 

So, its an adjustment but one that's well worth doing.  And like any changes, your emotions will run the gamut, but as long as you have your ultimate goal in mind, you should be fine.

Like Simplicity I started long before my surgery date, I started when I did my 6 mos. preop diet. So by the time my surgery came I was pretty well trained in the bandster eating ways. I'm still using them even tho I'm empty and it still helps control my eating. Just keep practicing and it will get to be second nature.

I started to transition to 'band' eating prior to my surgery

I bought kid-spoons and forks, I started to weigh/measur my food and put it on a salad plate, I started to stop drinking wiht my meals.

I have never struggled with clinical depression --- I went into my surgery knowing what to expect ( I attended local WLS support groups prior to surgery) ---- and I got what I expected.

I expected my band to 'dim my appetite' --- not to stop me from eating, but to make dieting easier.

I eat small amounts, several times a day, limiting my calories to about 1,200 a day and exercising regularly (60 - 120 minutes a day) --- my band limits my hunger between meals.

I COULD eat alot  more than I do ---- I just don't.

 I am on the lowest doses of an antidepressant.  I faxed my paperwork to the surgeon Tuesday and I am wondering if that would affect whether they would choose to do the surgery on me?

I was on an antidepressant, too, so I don't think that will harm your chances for the surgery.  Be prepared to have bouts of depression after the surgery.  I remember being at home the first week after the surgery and feeling so sad and melancholy.  Luckily, I had OH to come to and found that this was not unusual and it helped get me through the first couple of weeks.  You will be fine.  Just remember that it is normal and you have a support system here.

I really didn't make too many changes prior to surgery except for greatly increasing my water intake.  My BMI was right at the borderline for insurance to approve with comorbidities so my surgeon advised me not to lose more than about 5lbs.

Afterwards I didn't have any problems making the changes because I am very motivated.  But I will say that while I was off work recovering I did have some episodes of sadness as I thought about losing/giving up my "friend" overeating.  Those episodes didn't last long.

The band really helps you take it step by step in decreasing your portion sizes. You aren't scared into tiny portions.... more like 'lulled' or forced into submission. Haha.

At about 8 months I realized that I had to break up with food. That was a sad time and I mourned... truly. I realized that food couldn't fill the fun and exciting part of my life that it once did. It was a good break up... he was a bad boyfriend... :-P